SHOOTING 101: What to Look for Before Buying a Gun

Cheaply made and poorly constructed items are my worst nightmare, and I think many people can agree with the disappointment you feel upon purchasing these types of products. Most of the time these items are purchased by accident, lack of research beforehand, or poor advertisement from the company, and thankfully, the solution to cheap and poorly constructed items is simple–you can return them. Returns are a luxury that we often take for granted, and in a society that makes it so simple and hassle-free, we often forget that not every item we come across is returnable. But you can’t always return items after purchase. That alone makes it important to consider multiple factors before buying a gun.

Considerations When Buying a Gun

Firearms are the first item that comes to mind, because most gun shops have a policy that all sales are final. For many beginner shooters, it can be overwhelming with all the different brands, types and models of firearms that may leave you either scratching your head in confusion, delaying the purchasing process to avoid those overwhelming feelings, or buying a product you know you will end up not happy with. Fortunately for you, I am happy to report that purchasing a firearm does not have to be stressful and instead can be a fun and easy process that will make you want to do it all over again. 

Find Your Purpose

I believe that preparation is the key to making purchasing a firearm easy and simple. You never want to enter a gun shop and be completely clueless about what you are doing, and while sales associates are there to help and assist you, you cannot completely rely on them for everything. It is your personal responsibility to be prepared. A simple way you can do it is by finding out why you shoot firearms. 

Essentially, there are four reasons that someone shoots guns, which can be categorized as hunting, competitions, self-defense, or my personal favorite, for fun. Once you figure out the reason you shoot, you can then figure out the correct firearm you need to accomplish your goals. Upon entering a gun shop, you will find there are three types of firearms–pistols, rifles, and shotguns. 

To give you a general idea, pistols are small handheld firearms that are great for self-defense, and rifles and shotguns are long-barreled firearms that are good for hunting or home defense. No one can decide the reason you shoot firearms for you, but it is the first fundamental step towards finding your perfect firearm.

Comfortable Grip

Depending on how well you want to shoot, you need to pay attention to the small details. Factors such as your breathing, stance, and the way you press the trigger can determine your accuracy when shooting, and I believe one of the most important things you have to focus on to accurately hit your target is your grip. The key to having a good grip is to have a sturdy one, and the only way you can determine if you are picking a firearm that fits you is by physically holding it in your hands. 

Thankfully, most gun shops have no problem with you getting up close and personal with a firearm, given you are not pointing it at anyone and being respectful to everyone around you. However, it is always polite to ask for permission before you either dry fire or rack the slide, and if you are unfamiliar with handling firearms, I recommend letting the clerk know so they can properly assist and educate you on the correct way to proceed.

Most importantly, the biggest advice I can give is to not rush yourself. You should not feel like once you have the firearm in your hands, you have to give it back to the clerk as quickly as possible and make a decision if you want the firearm or not. You are allowed to take your time when trying to determine if the gun you have your eyes on is the one for you. 

Renting Firearms

Truthfully, physically holding a firearm will only tell you so much about a firearm. While it can be helpful to hold a firearm prior to purchasing one, you will never know if you truly enjoy a firearm until you shoot it. Thankfully, the solution to this is simple, because most gun ranges allow you to rent firearms before you buy them.

In my opinion, I find that I have an easier time jumping on board to purchase something if I can test it out beforehand and get a true authentic feel of an item. Renting a firearm can help you determine many factors that are important in deciding if you like a gun or not such as the weight of a loaded firearm, sights, and recoil. 

I believe that everyone should rent a firearm if they are given the option because the small fee you will have to pay to rent a firearm is nothing compared to the feeling when you know you chose a firearm that you will love and enjoy indefinitely. 

Caliber Matters

If you do not know already, caliber is the diameter of the gun’s barrel bore and is used to help determine a specific cartridge you will need to use for your firearm. It is important you find your sweet spot with calibers to get the most comfortable experience on the range possible. In my experience, firearms with .22 caliber are a great starting point because they have little recoil. But if you are someone that needs an extra kick, there are other calibers that will give you that. 

Personally, I recommend working your way up to higher calibers until you find one you like. Nonetheless, I do not recommend purchasing a firearm with a caliber that you know nothing about because you may be risking the possibility of not liking your firearm at all. Like I mentioned earlier, renting firearms is not only a great way to figure out if you like a firearm, but also a good way to find calibers you like and compare other firearms with each other. 

Recommendations

It does not take a genius to figure out that there are many brands and models of firearms out on the market, and this can be overwhelming if you are a new shooter who does not have much experience around different types of firearms. To find the right firearm for you, I would advise that you listen to the professionals’ opinions and recommendations, because chances are they are experienced in all kinds of firearms. There is no harm in listening to other shooters’ favorite brands and companies as well as the ones they do not enjoy. I find that hearing recommendations not only gives me a better footing in this industry, but it also gives me a head start on companies to avoid and an idea of brands I most likely will fall in love with. 

Most shooters are very open to giving you their two cents, and I especially love hearing advice from someone I can physically relate to because I know they will send me in the right direction of choosing a firearm that fits my stature and needs. I think it is important to remember and keep in mind that women will never know what it feels like to shoot a firearm as a man just like men will never know what it feels like to shoot a firearm as a woman. 

Safety Design

If you are a responsible gun owner, safety should be your number one priority to keep yourself and others safe from harm. A simple way to practice safe firearm handling is by familiarizing yourself with different types of safety switches. Safety switches are designed to help prevent accidental discharges, and you will find that most modern firearms have them. 

To give you a better idea on the types of safety switches, a few common ones are trigger level safety, grip safety and thumb safety. Hence the name, the trigger level safety is located on the trigger in the shape of a level, that once engaged, prevents the trigger from moving back. A grip safety is located on the back of a firearms grip, and to fire a firearm with this type of safety, a shooter must press the safety fully in. Lastly, thumb safety is either a tab or lever designed to block the trigger or firing pin. If the trigger is being blocked, the safety would be located on the frame, and if the firing pin was being blocked, it would be located on the slide.

As you get more familiar with firearms, you will quickly learn your likes and dislikes concerning safety switches but, in the meantime, it is important you stay educated and aware of all the different types on the market. 

Final Considerations When Buying a Gun

I believe the first time you purchase a firearm it should be an exciting, memorable, and enjoyable experience. The only way you can have the best experience possible when buying a gun is to be prepared beforehand. Truthfully, there is no way around it unless you want to risk purchasing a firearm you do not like. 

To make sure you are a happy customer, it is important you pick a firearm that fits your needs. Stay properly educated on different safety designs, listen to fellow shooters’ recommendations, and if possible, rent a firearm before purchasing. Once you have an idea on what to do beforehand, you can rest easy knowing that there is a firearm on the market crafted specially for you, and all you have to do to obtain it is to go searching for it.

Find a registered gun dealer near you at NSSF.org.